Lid-actuated card-dispensing box

ABSTRACT

A lid-actuated card-dispensing box is disclosed. An outer box having a lid receives an inner sleeve having a platform and at least one standoff coupled to the lid by means of a linkage. The linkage includes a plate secured to a front flap of the lid and pivotally connected to the standoff. A retention system resists movement of the plate relative to the standoff when the lid is in a closed position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to an apparatus for storing tradingcards.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Trading cards are an especially popular collector's item across all agegroups. In addition to traditional sports cards such as baseball cards,children may collect and trade cards representing characters inrole-playing games or popular animated television programs. Typicallychildren will bring their cards to school or to a friend's house totrade or to play role-playing games. However, through use andtransportation cards are subject to wear. A card's value in a trade oras collector's items may be reduced by wear and tear.

Prior storage means, such as a conventional box increase the risk ofdamage to trading cards and are not readily accessible. For example, aconventional box may snugly store trading cards during transportation.However, when removing the cards, only the edges of the cards may begripped, resulting in excess wear at the edges, which are vulnerable todelamination and fraying. Alternatively, an entire box may be dumpedout, which may be inconvenient when only a single card is needed.

Accordingly, it would be an advancement in the art to provide acontainer for storing and transporting trading cards that enabled readyremoval of the cards from the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A box for storing cards includes an outer case having an upper and alower end, the upper end defining an opening for insertion of cards andthe like. A lid is sized to cover the opening and hingedly secures to anupper end of the outer case. An inner platform fits within the box andhas a lower portion conforming to the lower end of the outer case,portion of the outer case proximate the lower end thereof. One or morevertical standoffs extend upwardly from the lower portion and secure tothe lid by means of a linkage that lifts the platform from the box asthe lid is opened.

The linkage may include a plate extending from the lid and pivotallycoupling to the vertical standoff. In some embodiments, the platesecures to a front flap secured to a free end of the lid. A retentionmechanism may retain the lid in a closed or open position. In oneembodiment, the retention mechanism is a raised portion secured to thestandoff and a depression secured to the linkage and positioned toreceive the raised portion in at least one orientation of the linkage.

As will be readily appreciated from the foregoing summary, the inventionprovides a storage box for storing trading cards and provides a platformthat is automatically raised on opening of the lid to facilitate removalof cards from the box.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention aredescribed in detail below with reference to the following drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lid-actuated card dispensing box in anopen configuration, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an inner sleeve, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cut-away front view of a linkage, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a side view of a lid-actuated card dispensing box in a closedconfiguration, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4B is a side view of a is a lid-actuated card dispensing box in anopen configuration, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 5 is a rear quarter perspective view of a lid-actuated carddispensing box having a carrying clip, in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a box 10 may include an outer box 12 having a lid14 hingedly secured to an edge thereof. The outer box 12 and lid 14 maybe formed of cardboard, steel, plastic, or other material sufficientlyrigid to maintain a box shape. The outer box 12 and lid 14 may becovered in a wear resistant or decorative material, such as genuine orimitation leather, plastic, or the like. The outer box 12 and lid 14 maybe lined to protect the outer box 12 and to inhibit wear on the contentsof the box 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer box 12 and lid14 are lined with a nylon fabric.

Referring to FIG. 2, while still referring to FIG. 1, an inner sleeve 16may be positioned within the outer box 12. The inner sleeve 16 mayinclude one or more vertical standoffs 18 extending upwardly from aplatform 20. The platform 20 may occupy a substantial portion of thebottom of the outer box 12. The platform 20 is typically slightlysmaller than the horizontal cross section of the outer box 12 tofacilitate movement of the platform 20 within the outer box 12. Thevertical standoffs 18 extend upwardly from the platform 20 and secure tothe lid 14 by means of a linkage 22.

The linkage 22 transfers force from the manual raising of the lid 14 tothe platform 20, thereby raising cards and the like within the outer box12 to a more accessible position. A retention member 24 engages thelinkage 22 to selectively prevent relative motion between the lid andthe standoffs 18. The retention member 24 may serve to maintain the lid14 in an open position with the platform 20 raised. The retention member24 may also maintain the lid 14 in a closed position with the platform20 lowered into the outer box 12. In some embodiments, the retentionmember 24 serves to lock the lid 14 in both open and closed positions.

In the illustrated embodiment, the standoffs 18 are embodied as sides 26a, 26 b forming the inner sleeve 16. The sides 26 a, 26 b may extendsubstantially along the entire inner lateral walls of the outer box 12while still sliding readily within the outer box 12. A back 28 mayextend between the sides 26 a, 26 b to define, along with the platform20, the sleeve 16 for holding cards, and the like.

The linkage 22 may include at least one plate 32 extending from the lid14 to the standoff 18. In the illustrated embodiment, two plates 32extend from the lid. The plates 32 may independently secure to the lid14 or may be angled end portions of a plate securing to the lid 14. Theplate 32 may secure to the standoff 18 by means of a pivot 34, such as arivet, such that as the lid is raised, the plate 32 pivots with respectto the standoff 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the plate 32 maysecure to the lid 14 by means of a front flap 36 rigidly or hingedlysecured to the free end of the lid 14.

Referring to FIG. 3, the retention member 24 may be embodied as a raisedportion 38 secured to the standoff 18 that engages a depression 40secured to the plate 32. Alternatively, the raised portion 38 may besecured to the plate 32 whereas the depression 40 is secured to thestandoff 18. The raised portion 38 may be forced into the depression 40such that deformation of the plate 32, standoff 18, or both is requiredto remove the raised portion from the depression 40. In the illustratedembodiment, the raised portion 38 is a rivet head and the depression isembodied as the crimped end of a hollow rivet shaft. In otherembodiments, the raised portion 38 and depression 40 are formed bylocally deforming the standoff 18 and plate 32, respectively. Embodyingthe raised portion 38 and depression 40 as rivets may facilitatemanufacture of a linkage 22, inasmuch as a single tool is needed to formthe pivot 34, the depression 40, and raised portion 38.

Referring to FIG. 4A, in a closed configuration of the lid 14, the innersleeve 16 is pushed down into the outer box 12. The plate 32 ispositioned having the depression 40 aligned with the raised portion 38such that the lid 14 is retained in the closed position. In someembodiments, a cutaway portion 48 may be formed in the outer box 12adjacent the plate 32 to enable the plates 32 to secure the outsidesurfaces of the sides 26 a, 26 b, which may be spread apart by adistance substantially equal the interior width of the box 12.

Referring to FIG. 4B, when opening the box 10, the user swings the lid14 upwardly from the outer box 12 causing the plate 32 to move upwardand to pivot with respect to the sides 26 a, 26 b. Pivoting of the plate32 forces the raised portion 38 out of the depression 40. As the plate32 is raised, the inner sleeve 16 is drawn out of the outer box 12 dueto coupling of the plate 32 to the standoffs 18 by means of the pivot34. In some embodiments, a tongue 52 secures to a front side of theouter box 12 and extends upwardly therefrom. The tongue 52 may serve toretain cards when the lid is an open position. In the illustratedembodiment, the tongue 52 secures to the front of the outer box 12 andextends from the cutaway portion 48 to near the top of the outer box 12.The tongue 52 may be formed from materials similar to those forming theouter box 12. The tongue 52 may be formed monolithically with the frontpanel of the outer box 12 or may secure to the outer box 12 by means ofglue, stitching, or other fastening means.

FIG. 5, in some embodiments, a fastener 56, such as a clip, belt loop,or like structure secures to a back panel of the outer box 12. Thefastener 56 may enable a user to secure the box 10 to a belt in order totransport the box 10. The fastener 56 may pivot in a plane parallel tothe back panel of the outer box 12. In some embodiments, a detentmechanism retains the fastener 56 in specific orientations. In theillustrated embodiment, the detent mechanism retains the fastener 56 invertical and horizontal orientations. The detent mechanism may alsoretain the fastener 56 in intermediate orientations.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, as noted above, many changes can be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope ofthe invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferredembodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely byreference to the claims that follow.

1. A card-collecting box comprising: an outer box comprising bottom,anterior, posterior, first lateral, and second lateral sides; a lidhingedly attached to the posterior side; an inner sleeve having at leastbottom and a first lateral side; and at least one lifting member securedto the lid spaced apart from a point of hinged securement to theposterior side, the lifting member securing to the inner sleeve.
 2. Thecard-collecting box of claim 1, further comprising a retention memberselectively engaging the lifting member and the inner sleeve to resistrelative motion between the lifting member and the inner sleeve, whereinthe lid and inner sleeve have an open position and a closed position,the retaining member engaging the lifting member and inner sleeve whenthe lid and inner sleeve are in the closed position.
 3. Thecard-collecting box of claim 2, wherein the lifting member comprises aplate extending from an interior surface of the lid.
 4. Thecard-collecting box of claim 3, wherein the plate is pivotally attachedto the inner sleeve.
 5. The card collecting box of claim 3, wherein theretention member comprises a raised portion secured to the plate andwherein the inner sleeve comprises a depression positioned to receivethe raised portion when the lid is in the closed position.
 6. The cardcollecting box of claim 3, wherein the retention member comprises araised portion secured to the inner sleeve and wherein the platecomprises a depression positioned to receive the raised portion when thelid is in the closed position.
 7. The card collecting box of claim 6,wherein the depression comprises a rivet.
 8. The card collecting box ofclaim 7, wherein the raised portion comprises a rivet head and whereinthe depression further comprises a crimped shaft of a rivet.
 9. The cardcollecting box of claim 8, wherein the lid comprises a top flap and afront flap, the top flap hingedly securing to the posterior side and thefront flap hingedly securing to a free end of the top flap.
 10. The cardcollecting box of claim 9, wherein the plate secures to the front flap.11. The card collecting box of claim 10, further comprising a tonguesecured to the anterior side and extending upwardly therefrom.
 12. Thecard collecting box of claim 11, wherein the tongue is substantiallycoextensive with the front flap when the lid is in the closed position.13. A box for storing cards, the box comprising: an outer case having anupper and a lower end, the upper end defining an opening; a lid sized tooccupy a substantial portion of the opening and hingedly secured to theupper end of the outer case; an inner platform having a lower portionconforming to a portion of the outer case proximate the lower endthereof and at least one vertical standoff extending upwardly from thelower portion; and a linkage coupling the lid to the at least onevertical standoff to cause movement of the standoff in correspondencewith the lid.
 15. The box of claim 13, wherein the linkage comprises aplate extending from the lid and pivotally coupling to the verticalstandoff.
 16. The box of claim 15, wherein the linkage comprises a frontflap hingedly secured to a free end of the lid, the plate securing tothe front flap.
 17. The box of claim 16, further comprising a retentionmechanism selectively preventing relative motion between the lid andvertical standoff.
 18. The box of claim 17, wherein the retentionmechanism is a raised portion secured to the vertical standoff and adepression secured to the linkage and positioned to receive the raisedportion in at least one orientation of the linkage.
 19. The box of claim13, wherein the vertical standoff is a first vertical standoff, the boxfurther comprising a second vertical standoff spaced apart laterallyfrom the first vertical standoff, the linkage coupling the secondvertical standoff to the lid.
 20. A box for storing cards, the boxcomprising: an outer case having an upper and a lower end, the upper enddefining an opening; a lid sized to occupy a substantial portion of theopening and hingedly secured to the upper end of the outer case; aninner platform having a lower portion conforming to a portion of theouter case proximate the lower end thereof and at least one verticalstandoff extending upwardly from the lower portion; and a means forraising the inner platform upon opening of the lid.